Rafael Nadal hopes for 'unscathed' return from injury: Indian Wells talking points

For the first time since January's Australian Open, the men's and women's tennis tours will be in the same place at the same time for the Indian Wells Masters.

In the weeks following the first Grand Slam of the season, players dispersed across the globe, many making their way to the Middle East, others heading to Europe and South America, but now they are all together again in the Californian desert.

Here are some of the biggest talking points ahead of the tournament starting on Wednesday.

Rafael Nadal returns from his latest injury setback this week, but the Spaniard doesn't sound too hopeful, describing his preparation for Indian Wells simply as "bad", while insisting his only aim is to leave the tournament "unscathed". Nadal, 37, ended his 12-month hip injury layoff at the Brisbane International in January, but another muscle injury has kept him on the sidelines since.

"I don’t know what level I’ll be at in Indian Wells, but it is the least important thing today. For me, it is important to spend a few days in Indian Wells and train with professionals," he said. "The preparation for Indian Wells has been bad and for Brisbane had been good. I hope to play a set between this Sunday’s match and the three days I have left before the debut."

Nadal, who played an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on Sunday, also reiterated that this could be his final season, and therefore his last visit to Indian Wells.

"For me, the priority is to try to get out of Indian Wells unscathed," the 2017 champion said. "Whatever has to be left, leave it in the clay season, which may or may not be the last, I have not decided 100 per cent. At the moment things are going that way."

A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal)

Nov